Serving with a smile: Community comes together for annual Thanksgiving Day dinner at Presbyterian-New England Congregational Church

Pat Norman receives utensils from volunteer Debbie Hummel during the Thanksgiving day feast provided by the Old Bryan Inn at the Presbyterian Church in Saratoga Springs Thursday afternoon. Photo Eric Jenks 11/22/12

Volunteer Val Ayers serves up gravy during the Thanksgiving day feast provided by the Old Bryan Inn at the Presbyterian Church in Saratoga Springs Thursday afternoon. Photo Eric Jenks 11/22/12

SARATOGA SPRINGS -- For 26 years, the Presbyterian-New England Congregational Church has opened its doors, and kitchen, to anyone who comes and wants a Thanksgiving dinner.

Thanksgiving is not the only day this church, its volunteers and restaurants come together to feed the hungry -- they serve meals at the church six days a week, facilitated by the and the Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council.

Stephen Sullivan, Longfellow's and Olde Bryan Inn owner, has been serving Thanksgiving dinner at the church for the past 26 years. He also provides meals at the church on the third and fifth Sunday's every month.

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Sullivan says he's just "filling a void," when asked about his philanthropy.

Sullivan certainly was, and is, doing just that. The soup kitchen serves anywhere from 80 to 125 meals on a typical day. On Thanksgiving, around 500 meals are served -- some eaten at the soup kitchen and some that are delivered to people in their homes.

Pat Norman, who works at the State Farm Insurance in Ballston Spa, said she makes it a point to come for dinner when Longfellow's is serving food.

"It's the best free meal in the world," Norman said as she sipped her coffee.

Just after noon on Thanksgiving, the room is packed with volunteers serving food and clearing plates off tables. A band plays music at the front of the room, where people young and old have gathered to eat dinner and enjoy the holiday.

Norman said that whenever she comes to the church for a meal, she sits at the same table, with the same people. She feels like she's part of a fellowship.

"The older people have a lot of wisdom and advice to give ... I'm not a great gardener, and they've given me advice on things they've learned from their own gardens," Norman said.

The soup kitchen volunteers are learning things here, too.

Alan Murawski said he started volunteering at the soup kitchen 15 years ago. About 13 years ago, he was hired by the Saratoga County EOC to be the Soup Kitchen coordinator.

Murawski said the Thanksgiving dinner is the biggest day of the year for the soup kitchen, comparable only to track season, when backstretch workers are in town. Recently, he's noticed a new influx of young people coming to eat at the soup kitchen.

"This time of year, if you're out there looking for work, where are you going to go?" Murawski said.